How English Triggers How English Triggers Processes of Norm Variation in Processes of Norm Variation in

Other European LanguagesOther European Languages

Juliane HouseJuliane House

jhouse@uni-hamburg.dejhouse@uni-hamburg.de

http://www.uni-hamburg.de/fachbereiche-einrichtungen/sfb538http://www.uni-hamburg.de/fachbereiche-einrichtungen/sfb538

StructureStructure

I Project Background, Research I Project Background, Research Questions and HypothesesQuestions and Hypotheses

II Analytical ProcedureII Analytical Procedureand Analysisand Analysis

III Some ResultsIII Some Results

1. The Project “Covert 1. The Project “Covert TranslationTranslation””

Globalized communication leads to an ever Globalized communication leads to an ever increasing demand for „parallel“ texts or covert increasing demand for „parallel“ texts or covert translationstranslations

Research question: Research question: whether and how English as a whether and how English as a global global lingua franca lingua franca influences German and other influences German and other languages through processes of parallel text languages through processes of parallel text production and covert translationproduction and covert translation

Parallel texts

texts on comparable topics, which belong to texts on comparable topics, which belong to the same genre and fulfil the same functionthe same genre and fulfil the same function

Covert translation

the function which a source text has in its the function which a source text has in its discourse world is maintained in the discourse world is maintained in the translation through the use of a "cultural translation through the use of a "cultural filter“ (House1977,1997), with which culture-filter“ (House1977,1997), with which culture-specific source language norms are adapted specific source language norms are adapted to the norms holding in the "receiving" to the norms holding in the "receiving" language communitylanguage community

The Impact of Global English

Traditional process of cultural filtering may Traditional process of cultural filtering may now be in a process of change!now be in a process of change!

Is maintenance of target culture norms in Is maintenance of target culture norms in parallel text production and covert parallel text production and covert translation no longer operative such that translation no longer operative such that source and target norms are convergingsource and target norms are converging??

General assumptions

German (French, Spanish, later Persian, German (French, Spanish, later Persian, Chinese) textual norms are adapted to Chinese) textual norms are adapted to Anglophone onesAnglophone ones

Adaptations can be located along a limited Adaptations can be located along a limited set of dimensions of culturally determined, set of dimensions of culturally determined, empirically established communicative empirically established communicative preferences (e.g. preferred foci on preferences (e.g. preferred foci on interpersonal or ideational function, on interpersonal or ideational function, on informational vagueness or specificity)informational vagueness or specificity)

The Project‘s HypothesesThe Project‘s Hypotheses

1. A shift from a conventionally strong 1. A shift from a conventionally strong emphasis in German discourse on the emphasis in German discourse on the ideational function of language to an ideational function of language to an Anglophone interpersonal orientation Anglophone interpersonal orientation focussing on addressee involvement.focussing on addressee involvement.

2. A shift from a conventionally strong 2. A shift from a conventionally strong emphasis on informational explicitness in emphasis on informational explicitness in German texts to Anglophone inference-German texts to Anglophone inference-inducing implicitness and propositional inducing implicitness and propositional opaqueness.opaqueness.

3. A shift in information structure from packing 3. A shift in information structure from packing lexical information densely and integratively lexical information densely and integratively in German texts to presenting information in in German texts to presenting information in a more loosely linearised, "sentential" way.a more loosely linearised, "sentential" way.

4. A shift in word order such that the German 4. A shift in word order such that the German “Satzklammer” with its two discontinuous “Satzklammer” with its two discontinuous left and right parts gives way to more left and right parts gives way to more continuous, juxtaposed positions of the two continuous, juxtaposed positions of the two parts.parts.

The Corpus

about 650 texts (over 800 000 wordsabout 650 texts (over 800 000 words))

Texts reflect a sphere of production and Texts reflect a sphere of production and reception which is of pervasive, global reception which is of pervasive, global socio-cultural influencesocio-cultural influence

VALIDATION CORPUS

PARALLEL CORPUS

PRIMARY CORPUS

French Translations

Spanish Translations

GERMAN TEXTS

English Translations

FRENCH TEXTS

SPANISH TEXTS

InterviewsBackground Documentation

Covert TranslationTranslation and Parallel Text Corpus

German Translations

ENGLISH TEXTS

Translation- and Comparable Corpora Translation- and Comparable Corpora (Example: English-German)(Example: English-German)

CorpusCorpusEnglish-German originals and translations (French and Spanish control English-German originals and translations (French and Spanish control texts)texts)

Popular Science TextsPopular Science Texts

– Scientific American,Scientific American, New ScientistNew Scientist and their satellite journals and their satellite journals

– Micro-diachronic: 1978-1982; 1999-2002Micro-diachronic: 1978-1982; 1999-2002

– 500 000 Words500 000 Words

Economic TextsEconomic Texts

– Annual reports by internationally operating companies Annual reports by internationally operating companies

Letters to shareholders, Missions, Visions, Corporate statementsLetters to shareholders, Missions, Visions, Corporate statements

– Reverse Translation Relation: German-English, French/Spanish-Reverse Translation Relation: German-English, French/Spanish-EnglishEnglish

– 130 000 Words130 000 Words

MethodMethod

Combination of qualitative and quantitative Combination of qualitative and quantitative methodsmethods

Qualitative: House Translation Evaluation Qualitative: House Translation Evaluation Model Model

Quantitative: Frequency CountsQuantitative: Frequency Counts

Renewed qualitative analysis Renewed qualitative analysis

Three Phases of StudyThree Phases of StudyPhase 1: Qualitative Analyses Phase 1: Qualitative Analyses

- Result: differences in subjectivity and addressee - Result: differences in subjectivity and addressee orientation in originals and translationsorientation in originals and translations

Phase 2: QuantificationPhase 2: Quantification

- Result: differences in frequency of linguistic means of expressing - Result: differences in frequency of linguistic means of expressing

subjectivity and addresssee orientationsubjectivity and addresssee orientation

Phase 3: Re-contextualising qualitative analyses: isolation of all Phase 3: Re-contextualising qualitative analyses: isolation of all

occurrences of vulnerable elementsoccurrences of vulnerable elements

- Manual annotation to locate co-occurences with e.g. tense, mood - Manual annotation to locate co-occurences with e.g. tense, mood

- Do equivalent elements occur in same linguistic context?- Do equivalent elements occur in same linguistic context?

- Are equivalent elements used for same communicative function?- Are equivalent elements used for same communicative function?

- translation relation, genre-contrastive- translation relation, genre-contrastive

Statistics: Multivariate analyses, complex co-occurrence patternsStatistics: Multivariate analyses, complex co-occurrence patterns

Genres

Popular Science: articles from Popular Science: articles from Scientific Scientific AmericanAmerican and and National Geographic, National Geographic, UNESCO CourierUNESCO Courier

(External) Business Communication: (External) Business Communication:

annual reports, letters to shareholders, annual reports, letters to shareholders, „visions" and „missions", product „visions" and „missions", product presentationspresentations

Computer Instructions: software manualsComputer Instructions: software manuals

Texts were scanned, transcribed, formated Texts were scanned, transcribed, formated and segmented according to orthographic and segmented according to orthographic utterance units (sentences, paragraphs, utterance units (sentences, paragraphs, titles and subtitles must be recognisable) titles and subtitles must be recognisable)

Comparability: textual stretch functioning Comparability: textual stretch functioning as an introduction as an introduction

2. Qualitative analytic procedure2. Qualitative analytic procedure

House‘s (1997) translation modelHouse‘s (1997) translation model

Two functional components co-present in Two functional components co-present in every text: ideational & interpersonal that every text: ideational & interpersonal that need to be kept equivalent in translationneed to be kept equivalent in translation

Source and target texts to be analysed in Source and target texts to be analysed in terms of the levels of Language and Text, terms of the levels of Language and Text, Register and Genre. Outcome is as textual Register and Genre. Outcome is as textual profile and the text‘s function profile and the text‘s function

Language, Register and GenreLanguage, Register and Genre

GenreGenre as content-plane of as content-plane of RegisterRegister, and , and RegisterRegister as expression plane of as expression plane of GenreGenre; ; RegisterRegister as content plane of as content plane of LanguageLanguage, , LaLanguagenguage as expression plane of as expression plane of RegisterRegisterFunction of a text: co-presence of two functional Function of a text: co-presence of two functional components: an ideational and an interpersonal components: an ideational and an interpersonal oneone

Textual function NOT identical with functions of Textual function NOT identical with functions of languagelanguage

Superordinate Features: Superordinate Features: FieldField, , TenorTenor and and ModeMode

Field of DiscourseField of Discourse: nature of the social action in : nature of the social action in the text, field of activity, content, degree of the text, field of activity, content, degree of lexical generality and specificitylexical generality and specificity

Tenor of DiscourseTenor of Discourse: author and his personal : author and his personal stance vis-à-vis the content, relationship stance vis-à-vis the content, relationship between author and addressees (social power, between author and addressees (social power, distance, affect)distance, affect)

Mode of DiscourseMode of Discourse: cohesion, coherence, : cohesion, coherence, degrees of "spokenness" and "writtenness"degrees of "spokenness" and "writtenness"

GenreGenre

A socially established category A socially established category characterised in terms of occurrence of characterised in terms of occurrence of use, source and a communicative purpose use, source and a communicative purpose or any combination of theseor any combination of theseLinks a single text to a class of texts united Links a single text to a class of texts united by a common communicative purposeby a common communicative purposeReflects language users' shared Reflects language users' shared knowledge about nature of texts of the knowledge about nature of texts of the same kind same kind

A Scheme for Producing, Analysing and Comparing Original and Translation Texts

OvertOvert and and covertcovert translationtranslation

CovertCovert translation: like a translation: like a second originalsecond originalNot marked pragmatically as a translationNot marked pragmatically as a translationMay have been created in its own rightMay have been created in its own right

Translator creates equivalent speech eventTranslator creates equivalent speech eventthrough the use of a „cultural filter“ through the use of a „cultural filter“

Cultural Filter Cultural Filter

Functional equivalence in covert translation Functional equivalence in covert translation achieved through changes on the levels of achieved through changes on the levels of Language/TextLanguage/Text and and RegisterRegisterText is adapted to target culture normsText is adapted to target culture normsTranslator looks at source text ‚with the eyes' Translator looks at source text ‚with the eyes' of target text readers and acts accordinglyof target text readers and acts accordinglyMost imortant are changes to a text‘s Most imortant are changes to a text‘s interpersonal functional component for which interpersonal functional component for which values along dimensions of values along dimensions of TenorTenor and and ModeMode are crucial are crucial

Translators need reliable information Translators need reliable information about culture-specific communicative about culture-specific communicative preferences drawn from contrastive preferences drawn from contrastive pragmatic discourse analysespragmatic discourse analyses

E.g. German speakers‘ tendency to E.g. German speakers‘ tendency to emphasise the ideational functional emphasise the ideational functional component of texts, whereas English component of texts, whereas English speakers tend to give equal weight to the speakers tend to give equal weight to the interpersonal functional component interpersonal functional component

Analytical ProcessAnalytical Process

1.1. Analysis of English original along the Analysis of English original along the dimensions dimensions FieldField, , TenorTenor and and ModeMode- Setting up a text-profile on the basis of - Setting up a text-profile on the basis of analytical findings on lexical, syntactic analytical findings on lexical, syntactic and textual levels that reflect the and textual levels that reflect the individual textual functionindividual textual function

2.2. Analysis of translation along the same Analysis of translation along the same dimensionsdimensions

3.3. Comparison of source and translationComparison of source and translation

3. Qualitative contrastive analyses 3. Qualitative contrastive analyses of English-German translations in of English-German translations in

two genrestwo genres3.1 Popular science texts3.1 Popular science texts

English original textsEnglish original textsmostly taken from the popular scientific mostly taken from the popular scientific

magazine Scientific Americanmagazine Scientific American

Addressees are interested lay readers Addressees are interested lay readers Specialised lexis is mostly absent in Specialised lexis is mostly absent in English originals, texts are more „popular“ English originals, texts are more „popular“ than „scientific“!than „scientific“!

- German translations of these texts - German translations of these texts appeared in the German satellite appeared in the German satellite publication publication Spektrum der WissenschaftSpektrum der Wissenschaft

-- Higher level of technical, specialised Higher level of technical, specialised language in German textslanguage in German texts

-- Generally more explicit, tGenerally more explicit, translations give ranslations give etymological derivationsetymological derivations, , "unpack" "unpack" informational content, tend to provide informational content, tend to provide detailed explanations and interpretations.detailed explanations and interpretations.

(1) HIV Vaccines: Prospects and Challenges, in: Scientific American,

Juli 1998/ Wie nahe ist ein HIV-Impfstoff, (BT: How close is a HIV

vaccine) in: Spektrum der Wissenschaft, Oktober 1998

Most vaccines activate what is called the Most vaccines activate what is called the humoral arm of the immune system.humoral arm of the immune system.

Die meisten Vakzine aktivieren den Die meisten Vakzine aktivieren den sogenannten humoralen Arm des sogenannten humoralen Arm des Immunsystems Immunsystems (nach lateinisch (nach lateinisch humor, humor, Flüssigkeit)Flüssigkeit)

(BT: Most vaccines activate the so-called (BT: Most vaccines activate the so-called humoral arm of the immune system (after humoral arm of the immune system (after Latin humor, liquid.) Latin humor, liquid.)

(2) Gazzaniga, M., The Split Brain Revisited, in: Scientific American

July 1998/ Rechtes und linkes Gehirn: Split-Brain und

Bewußtsein, in: Spektrum der Wissenschaft, Dezember 1998 (BT: Right and Left Brain: Split-

Brain and Consciousness)

Groundbreaking work that began more than a quarter Groundbreaking work that began more than a quarter of a century ago has led to ongoing insights about of a century ago has led to ongoing insights about brain organisation and consciousness.brain organisation and consciousness.

Jahrzehntelange Studien an Patienten mit chirurgisch Jahrzehntelange Studien an Patienten mit chirurgisch getrennten Großhirnhälften haben das Verständnis für getrennten Großhirnhälften haben das Verständnis für den funktionellen Aufbau des Gehirns und das Wesen den funktionellen Aufbau des Gehirns und das Wesen des Bewußtseins vertieft.des Bewußtseins vertieft.

(BT: Decade-long studies on patients with surgically (BT: Decade-long studies on patients with surgically separated brain hemispheres have deepened the separated brain hemispheres have deepened the understanding of the functional organisation of the understanding of the functional organisation of the brain and the essence of consciousness.)brain and the essence of consciousness.)

(3) Buchbinder, S., Avoiding Infection after HIV-Exposure, in: Scientific American July 1998 /

Prävention nach HIV-Kontakt, in: Spektrum der Wissenschaft,

Oktober 1998 (BT: Prevention after HIV-Contact)

Treatment may reduce the chance of contracting Treatment may reduce the chance of contracting HIV infection after a risky encounter.HIV infection after a risky encounter.

Eine sofortige Behandlung nach Kontakt mit einer Eine sofortige Behandlung nach Kontakt mit einer Ansteckungsquelle verringert unter Umständen die Ansteckungsquelle verringert unter Umständen die Gefahr, dass sich das Human-Immunschwäche-Gefahr, dass sich das Human-Immunschwäche-Virus im Körper festsetzt. Virus im Körper festsetzt. Gewähr gibt es keine, Gewähr gibt es keine, zudem erwachsen eigene Risiken.zudem erwachsen eigene Risiken.

(BT: An immediate treatment after contact reduces (BT: An immediate treatment after contact reduces under certain circumstances the danger that the under certain circumstances the danger that the human immuno-deficiency-virus establishes itself in human immuno-deficiency-virus establishes itself in the. There is no guarantee for this, moreover new the. There is no guarantee for this, moreover new risks arise.)risks arise.)

““Didactic tenor“Didactic tenor“of German translationsof German translations

Translators may have assumed a lack of Translators may have assumed a lack of knowledge on the part of the readerknowledge on the part of the reader

In the English texts, the addressees are “drawn into In the English texts, the addressees are “drawn into the text” to make them personally involvedthe text” to make them personally involved

Addressees of English texts are "invited" to identify Addressees of English texts are "invited" to identify with the persons depicted in the text’s discourse with the persons depicted in the text’s discourse world through the use of various linguistic meansworld through the use of various linguistic means

(4) Buchbinder, S., Avoiding Infection after HIV Exposure, in: Scientific American, July 1998/

Prävention nach HIV-Kontakt, in: Spektrum der Wissenschaft,

Oktober 1998 (BT: Prevention after HIV-Contact)

II1 Suppose you are a doctor in an emergency 1 Suppose you are a doctor in an emergency

room room 2 and a patient tells you she was raped two 2 and a patient tells you she was raped two

hours earlier.hours earlier.3 She is afraid she may have been exposed to 3 She is afraid she may have been exposed to

HIV, the virus that causes AIDSHIV, the virus that causes AIDS4 but has heard that there is a "morning-after 4 but has heard that there is a "morning-after

pill" to prevent HIV infection.pill" to prevent HIV infection.IIII1 Can you in fact do anything to block the virus1 Can you in fact do anything to block the virus2 from replicating and establishing infection?2 from replicating and establishing infection?

1 In der Notfallaufnahme eines Krankenhauses 1 In der Notfallaufnahme eines Krankenhauses berichtet eine Patientin berichtet eine Patientin

2 sie sei vor zwei Stunden vergewaltigt worden 2 sie sei vor zwei Stunden vergewaltigt worden 3 und nun in Sorge, dem AIDS-Erreger 3 und nun in Sorge, dem AIDS-Erreger

ausgesetzt zu sein,ausgesetzt zu sein,4 sie habe aber gehört, es gebe eine "Pille 4 sie habe aber gehört, es gebe eine "Pille

danach", danach", 5 die eine HIV-Infektion verhüte.5 die eine HIV-Infektion verhüte.6 Kann der Arzt überhaupt irgendetwas tun, 6 Kann der Arzt überhaupt irgendetwas tun, 7 was eventuell vorhandene Viren hindern 7 was eventuell vorhandene Viren hindern

würde,würde,8 sich zu vermehren und sich dauerhaft im 8 sich zu vermehren und sich dauerhaft im

Körper einzunisten?Körper einzunisten?

(BT: In the emergency room of a hospital a (BT: In the emergency room of a hospital a patient reports that she had been raped two patient reports that she had been raped two hours ago and was now worrying that she hours ago and was now worrying that she had been exposed to the AIDS-Virus. She had been exposed to the AIDS-Virus. She said she had heard that there was an "After-said she had heard that there was an "After-Pill", which might prevent an HIV-infection. Pill", which might prevent an HIV-infection. Can the doctor in fact do anything which Can the doctor in fact do anything which might prevent potentially existing viruses from might prevent potentially existing viruses from replicating and establishing themselves replicating and establishing themselves permanently in the body?)permanently in the body?)

English textsEnglish texts

„„Mental processes“ are used to establish a Mental processes“ are used to establish a personal relationship with the addresseepersonal relationship with the addressee

A text‘s A text‘s FieldField is made familiar to addressees is made familiar to addressees

Further linguistic means: mood switches, Further linguistic means: mood switches, dramatisation of scientific reportsdramatisation of scientific reports

Strong cohesion through extensive use of Strong cohesion through extensive use of repetition, structural parallelism, linguistic repetition, structural parallelism, linguistic routines, deliberate ‚framing‘ of a textroutines, deliberate ‚framing‘ of a text

German textsGerman texts

Feature only relational and material processes Feature only relational and material processes (in the sense of Halliday) in different distributions(in the sense of Halliday) in different distributions

Lack of mental processesLack of mental processes

No offer of identification to addresseesNo offer of identification to addressees

Syntactically more complex structures (Syntactically more complex structures (left left branching pre-nominal modificationbranching pre-nominal modification, absence of , absence of rhetorical mechanisms such as parallelism)rhetorical mechanisms such as parallelism)

Less macro-cohesive, more „micro-organized“Less macro-cohesive, more „micro-organized“

Summary of FindingsSummary of Findings

Reduced emotional engagement in German textsReduced emotional engagement in German texts

Less persuasive attitude Less persuasive attitude

Reduced convictionReduced conviction on the part of the text on the part of the text producer that scientific research is successfulproducer that scientific research is successful

Generally more "neutral"Generally more "neutral" lexis lexis

Fewer "emotive"Fewer "emotive" connotations and intensifiers connotations and intensifiers

More More negative connotationsnegative connotations

Orientation towards persons reduced in favour of Orientation towards persons reduced in favour of orientation towards institutions, things, concepts, orientation towards institutions, things, concepts, abstract phenomenaabstract phenomena

3.2. Economic Texts3.2. Economic Texts““Missions" and "visions“, letters to shareholdersMissions" and "visions“, letters to shareholdersIn English texts: simple colloquial style with few In English texts: simple colloquial style with few specialised economic terminology specialised economic terminology Routinised lexical phrases reminiscent of Routinised lexical phrases reminiscent of advertisementsadvertisementsPositive connotationsPositive connotations, comparatives, superlatives, , comparatives, superlatives, intensifiers,intensifiers,Optimistic, consistently positive, often enthusiastic Optimistic, consistently positive, often enthusiastic self-presentation of companies and their agentsself-presentation of companies and their agentsHeavy use of personal deixis as identification Heavy use of personal deixis as identification anchorsanchorsIn German texts all these features less pronounced!In German texts all these features less pronounced!

(5) Multisyn Vision 2000 Connected CreativityConnected Creativity1 I want to be part of a company where I am challenged to:1 I want to be part of a company where I am challenged to:2 - Have fun creating new ideas that improve our performance in the market2 - Have fun creating new ideas that improve our performance in the market3 - Obsessively search for new ideas, by observing, listening and learning 3 - Obsessively search for new ideas, by observing, listening and learning

from everyonefrom everyone

Connected CreativityConnected Creativity1 Ich will Teil eines Unternehmens sein, das mich herausfordert:1 Ich will Teil eines Unternehmens sein, das mich herausfordert:2 - Mit Spaß neue Ideen zu kreieren, die unsere Performance am Markt 2 - Mit Spaß neue Ideen zu kreieren, die unsere Performance am Markt

verbessernverbessern3 - Intensive neue Ideen zu suchen durch beobachten, zuhören und lernen 3 - Intensive neue Ideen zu suchen durch beobachten, zuhören und lernen

von jedem von jedem

(BT: I want to be part of a company which challenges me:(BT: I want to be part of a company which challenges me:

- with fun to create new ideas, which- with fun to create new ideas, which improve our performance in the marketimprove our performance in the market

- to look for intensive new ideas through observing, listening and learning - to look for intensive new ideas through observing, listening and learning from everyone.)from everyone.)

Single-minded passion for winningSingle-minded passion for winning

1 I want to be part of a company where I am challenged to:1 I want to be part of a company where I am challenged to:2 - Have unrelentingly high expectations of myself and others2 - Have unrelentingly high expectations of myself and others3 - Say "No" to anything that is not clearly aligned with the 3 - Say "No" to anything that is not clearly aligned with the

winning strategywinning strategy

Single-minded passion for winningSingle-minded passion for winning

1 Ich will Teil eines Unternehmens sein, das mich 1 Ich will Teil eines Unternehmens sein, das mich herausfordert:herausfordert:

2 - Hohe Erwartungen an mich und andere zu stellen2 - Hohe Erwartungen an mich und andere zu stellen3 - "Nein" zu sagen, zu allem, was nicht klar mit der 3 - "Nein" zu sagen, zu allem, was nicht klar mit der

Gewinnenwollen-Strategie verbunden istGewinnenwollen-Strategie verbunden ist

(BT: I want to be part of a company which challenges me to(BT: I want to be part of a company which challenges me to

- put high expectations onto me and others- put high expectations onto me and others

- say "No" to everything that is not clearly- say "No" to everything that is not clearly connected with the connected with the Want-to-win Strategy.)Want-to-win Strategy.)

Summary of Qualitative Analysis of Summary of Qualitative Analysis of Texts in Two Genres Texts in Two Genres

None of our hypotheses confirmedNone of our hypotheses confirmed

But: indication of a But: indication of a shift in the use of those shift in the use of those linguistic means which realise the linguistic means which realise the interpersonal functional componentinterpersonal functional component („stance“, („stance“, „expressivity“, „point of view“, addressee „expressivity“, „point of view“, addressee orientation)orientation)

First signs of adaptation processes of German First signs of adaptation processes of German to Anglo-American textual normsto Anglo-American textual norms (genre- (genre-mixing)mixing)

RapprochementRapprochement to Anglophone textual to Anglophone textual norms expressed in a stronger presence norms expressed in a stronger presence of "subjectivity" and "addressee of "subjectivity" and "addressee orientation” – to be examined under the orientation” – to be examined under the dimension dimension TENOR TENOR and its subcategories and its subcategories StanceStance and and Social Role RelationshipSocial Role Relationship, , SocialSocial AttitudeAttitude and and ParticipationParticipation

““Subjectivity”Subjectivity”

A speaker’s ability to represent and constitute A speaker’s ability to represent and constitute himself in and through language as a himself in and through language as a “subject”“subject”

Related in systemic-functional theory to Related in systemic-functional theory to Stance (Biber 2004):Stance (Biber 2004):

- "epistemic stance" relating to the speaker’s "epistemic stance" relating to the speaker’s assessment of the truth of the propositionassessment of the truth of the proposition

- "attitudinal stance" referring to the author’s "attitudinal stance" referring to the author’s personal attitude, his value judgements and personal attitude, his value judgements and expectationsexpectations

Hunston & Thompson (2001): Hunston & Thompson (2001): subjectivity examined under the category of subjectivity examined under the category of "evaluation" consisting of "stance" and "evaluation" consisting of "stance" and "viewpoint" vis à vis the proposition"viewpoint" vis à vis the proposition

Smith (2002, 2003):Smith (2002, 2003):two types of subjectivity: two types of subjectivity: (1) "point of view" (linguistic units expressing (1) "point of view" (linguistic units expressing a way of looking at things) and a way of looking at things) and (2) "perspective" ('perspectivising' utterances (2) "perspective" ('perspectivising' utterances that present a situation or state of affairs from that present a situation or state of affairs from a certain standpoint)a certain standpoint)

But subjectivity can also be said to relate to But subjectivity can also be said to relate to the function certain linguistic means have the function certain linguistic means have when it comes to influencing hearers (Smith when it comes to influencing hearers (Smith 2003; Nuyts 2001): interactive function, 2003; Nuyts 2001): interactive function, “Intersubjectivity”“Intersubjectivity”

Similar labels are Similar labels are Epistemic ModalityEpistemic Modality (Salkie (Salkie 2002; Facchinetti et al. 2003), 2002; Facchinetti et al. 2003), Emotive Emotive Prosody Prosody (Bublitz 2003), (Bublitz 2003), EvidentialityEvidentiality (Chafe & (Chafe & Nichols 1986), Nichols 1986), MetadiscourseMetadiscourse (Le 2004, (Le 2004, Hyland 1998, Hyland & Tse 2004), as well as Hyland 1998, Hyland & Tse 2004), as well as “politeness in text” (House 1998, 2005)“politeness in text” (House 1998, 2005)

4. Diachronic qualitative analyses4. Diachronic qualitative analyses

Popular sciencePopular science: :

contrastive analyses of English originals, contrastive analyses of English originals, German translations and German originals: German translations and German originals: two time frames 1978-1982 and 1999-2002two time frames 1978-1982 and 1999-2002

Differences found in the following areas:Differences found in the following areas:

(1) Description of Content(1) Description of Content

Older German translations Older German translations more explicitly more explicitly structuredstructured ( (use of temporal adverbials, use of temporal adverbials, conditional and causal conjunctions, conditional and causal conjunctions, advanceadvance organizers organizers (lists) (lists)

(2) Personalising Science(2) Personalising Science

Older English texts:Older English texts:- more sentence adverbials - more sentence adverbials

- more complement constructions- more complement constructions - - more evaluative lexismore evaluative lexis- - more process-oriented verbsmore process-oriented verbs - more- more speaker-hearer deixis)speaker-hearer deixis)- - lexical und syntactic parallelismlexical und syntactic parallelism

Differences much less marked in second Differences much less marked in second time frame 1999-2002!time frame 1999-2002!

Addressee-orientation through presence of Addressee-orientation through presence of speaker-hearer deixis, material and mental speaker-hearer deixis, material and mental processes; simulated interaction between processes; simulated interaction between author and addressees via mood switches; author and addressees via mood switches; colloquial lexis, expressions of modalitycolloquial lexis, expressions of modality

(3) Explicitation(3) Explicitation

Older German translations:Older German translations:explicitations particularly on meta-level via explicitations particularly on meta-level via text commenting devicestext commenting devices ("Es muss an dieser ("Es muss an dieser Stelle betont werden“ BT: It must be stressed Stelle betont werden“ BT: It must be stressed at this point) as well as explanations (didactic at this point) as well as explanations (didactic functionfunction).).

Newer German translations:Newer German translations:addressees' knowledge often presupposed, addressees' knowledge often presupposed, however still: systematic enrichment with however still: systematic enrichment with additional detailsadditional details

Diachronic Qualitative AnalysesDiachronic Qualitative Analyses of of Economic TextsEconomic Texts

Increasing difficulties with finding translations Increasing difficulties with finding translations of corporate statements - English only!!of corporate statements - English only!!

Changes over time with respect to the Changes over time with respect to the following phenomena related to subjectivity following phenomena related to subjectivity and addressee orientationand addressee orientation::

MoodMood

Newer letters to shareholders: increased use Newer letters to shareholders: increased use of interrogatives and imperatives (effect: of interrogatives and imperatives (effect: simulated interaction between author and simulated interaction between author and addressee addressee

Striking: Striking: linkage of imperatives with direct linkage of imperatives with direct address of readers,address of readers, often often with requests, with requests, warning, threat, announcementswarning, threat, announcements

ModalityModality

Modal verbsModal verbs preferably used in final preferably used in final paragraphs (announcements of further paragraphs (announcements of further action, Böttger & Bührig 2003)action, Böttger & Bührig 2003)

Narrative SequencesNarrative Sequences

Much greater frequency in newer textsMuch greater frequency in newer texts

Narratives replace Reports and Narratives replace Reports and Descriptions (Böttger & Probst 2001)Descriptions (Böttger & Probst 2001)

5. Validating qualitative analyses5. Validating qualitative analyses

Translations from English into French and Translations from English into French and Spanish to validate results of analyses of Spanish to validate results of analyses of English-German translationsEnglish-German translations

French translations of popular science French translations of popular science textstexts

Fewer expressions of Subjectivity than in the Fewer expressions of Subjectivity than in the English and German texts due to:English and German texts due to:- fewer particles and colloquial forms- fewer particles and colloquial forms- - preference of metaphorical instead of preference of metaphorical instead of congruent constructions, of literal rather thancongruent constructions, of literal rather than figurative formsfigurative forms- frequent shift of perspective from author or - frequent shift of perspective from author or addressee to a third personaddressee to a third person

Lack of involvement of addressees:Lack of involvement of addressees:- lack of mental processes and hearer deixis- lack of mental processes and hearer deixis - - no offer of identification to readersno offer of identification to readers - - absence of narrative frames and co-absence of narrative frames and co-ordinating conjunctions – that indicated an ordinating conjunctions – that indicated an adaptation to Anglophone norms in the adaptation to Anglophone norms in the German translationsGerman translations

Spanish translationsSpanish translations of economic textsof economic texts

Sentences with active constructions in Sentences with active constructions in English often changed into passivesEnglish often changed into passives

Paratactic structures favoured in English Paratactic structures favoured in English often transformed into hypotactic structures in often transformed into hypotactic structures in SpanishSpanish

Fewer Fewer narrative sequences in Spanishnarrative sequences in Spanish

Higher degree of formality in addressing Higher degree of formality in addressing readers and in choice of lexisreaders and in choice of lexis

German translations thus tend to be much German translations thus tend to be much closer to their English originals than closer to their English originals than French and Spanish ones, i.e., no French and Spanish ones, i.e., no confirmation of an equivalent influence of confirmation of an equivalent influence of English norms on native French and English norms on native French and Spanish norms!Spanish norms!

6. Quantitative Diachronic Analyses6. Quantitative Diachronic Analyses

To verify the results of the qualitative To verify the results of the qualitative analysesanalyses

To reveal preferred usage of salient individual To reveal preferred usage of salient individual forms with respect to collocations and co-forms with respect to collocations and co-occurrenceoccurrence patterns in the texts patterns in the texts

Subjectivity and adressee orientation Subjectivity and adressee orientation operationalized as occurrences of:operationalized as occurrences of:

modal verbs, semi-modals, modal words, modal verbs, semi-modals, modal words, particles, mental processes, deixis, particles, mental processes, deixis, connective particles, sentence adverbials, connective particles, sentence adverbials, inging-adverbials, -adverbials, progressiveprogressive aspectaspect, , sentential mood, complement constructions, sentential mood, complement constructions, ‘frames’, commenting parentheses, ‘frames’, commenting parentheses, evaluative lexisevaluative lexis (distribution and frequency examined in (distribution and frequency examined in comparative diachronic analysis)comparative diachronic analysis)

Data Basis (Popular Science)Data Basis (Popular Science)

English monolingual texts from the years 1999-English monolingual texts from the years 1999-2002 (122866 words).2002 (122866 words).The German translations of these English texts The German translations of these English texts (113420 words).(113420 words).German monolingual texts from the years 1999-German monolingual texts from the years 1999-2002 (100648 words).2002 (100648 words).English monolingual texts from the years 1978-English monolingual texts from the years 1978-1982 (42497 words).1982 (42497 words).The German translations of these English texts The German translations of these English texts (37830 words).(37830 words).German monolingual texts from the years 1978-German monolingual texts from the years 1978-1982 (82480 words). 1982 (82480 words).

Quantitative analyses have by and large Quantitative analyses have by and large confirmed qualitative analysesconfirmed qualitative analysesChange in frequency of those linguistic means Change in frequency of those linguistic means that contribute to realising subjectivity and that contribute to realising subjectivity and addressee orientationaddressee orientation in both German in both German translations and original German textstranslations and original German textsIncreased frequency In German texts of Increased frequency In German texts of speaker-hearer deixis, elements expressing speaker-hearer deixis, elements expressing modality, particles, mental processes - all of modality, particles, mental processes - all of which signal subjectivity and addressee which signal subjectivity and addressee orientation and construe orality and interaction orientation and construe orality and interaction between author and addressee between author and addressee

But: different path in German translations But: different path in German translations and German original texts: rapprochement to and German original texts: rapprochement to English texts appears to be slower in original English texts appears to be slower in original German texts!German texts!

Major results of quantitative analyses:Major results of quantitative analyses:

(1) Deixis(1) Deixis

02468

1012

1978-1982 1999-2002

E

DÜ

D

(2) Modality(2) Modality

ParticlesParticles Modal wordsModal words

020406080

100120

1978-1982 1999-2002

DÜ

D

0102030405060

1978-1982 1999-2002

DÜ

D

(3) Mental Processes(3) Mental Processes

0

50

100

150

1978-1982 1999-2002

E

DÜ

D

(4) Connectivity(4) Connectivity

And / UndAnd / Und Pronominal adverbialsPronominal adverbials

0

2

4

6

8

1978-1982 1999-2002

E

DÜ

D

0102030405060

1978-1982 1999-2002

E

DÜ

D

Modified hypothesisModified hypothesis

Changes in German text conventions Changes in German text conventions through contact with English texts take through contact with English texts take place through register-specific variation of place through register-specific variation of the use of certain linguistic means, which the use of certain linguistic means, which are reflected in a changed function of the are reflected in a changed function of the text as a wholetext as a whole

7. Cause and Effect? Three 7. Cause and Effect? Three explanatory hypothesesexplanatory hypotheses

Cause and effect? What exactly causes the Cause and effect? What exactly causes the changes found? Three explanatory hypotheses:changes found? Three explanatory hypotheses:

Changes through translation from English as a Changes through translation from English as a locus of locus of direct language contactdirect language contact ! !Changes through omnipresence of global Changes through omnipresence of global English, i.e. translation as a locus of English, i.e. translation as a locus of indirect indirect language contactlanguage contact ! !Translation is innocent! Translators conserve Translation is innocent! Translators conserve norms of target language!norms of target language!

The Booh Factor:The Booh Factor:Translation as Mediator of the Translation as Mediator of the

English Take-OverEnglish Take-Over

Translational process effects change!

The X Factor:The X Factor:Universal Impact of GlobalisationUniversal Impact of Globalisation

Translational process reflects change!

The Green Factor:The Green Factor:Translation as Cultural Translation as Cultural

ConservationConservation

Translational process resists change!